GR  600 

/c'/Tf 


Duke  University   Libraries 

Report  of  Speci 
Conf  Pam  #289 


HOUSE  OF   REPRESENTATIVES,   Feb.   11,    1865.— Resolu- 
tions adopted,  and  report  ordered  to  be  printed. 

[By  Mr.  Miller,  from  Select  Committee.] 


REPORT 

Of  Special  Committee  on  the  Pay  and  Clothing  of  the  Army. 


The  undersigned,  special  committee,  to  whom  were  referred  sundry- 
resolutions  and  memorials  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  in  refer- 
ence to  the  delay  in  the  payment,  and  the  insufficient  supply  of 
clothing  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  army,  beg  leave  respect- 
fully to  submit  the  follow'ing  report : 

That  your  committee  have  given  these  matters  that  earnest  consi- 
deration and  investigation,  alike  demanded  by  the  wishes  of  this 
House,  and  the  justice  due  to  the  brave  soldiers  and  otHcers  of  the 
army.  They  first  sought  an  interview  with  the  Quartermaster  Ge- 
neral, who  is  immediately  charged  with  the  duty  of  the  payment  of 
the  troops  and  the  supply  of  their  clothing.  That  officer  referred  us 
to  a  communication  addressed  by  him  to  a  committee  of  the  Senate, 
and  to  the  co^nmittee  of  ways  and  means  of  this  House,  from  whom 
we  obtained  a  copy,  now  filed  with  this  report,  and  dated  12th  No- 
vember 1S64.  We  subsequently  received  from  the  same  officer, 
Brig.  Gen.  A.  R.  Lawton,  Quartermaster  General,  a  second  commu- 
nication, dated  12th  December  1864,  also  herewith  filed ;  to  both  of 
which  we  especially  call  the  attention  of  the  House.  It  appears 
from  these  conmiunications,  as  well  as  from  personal  interviews,  that 
the  delay  in  the  payment  of  the  soldiers  has  occurred  from  several 
causes : 

First — From  the  operation  of  the  currency  act  of  congress,  ap- 
proved 17th  February  1864.  The  immediate  effect  of  that  law  was 
to  require  a  change  from  the  currency  tlien  used  by  the  government, 
to  the  new  currency  authorized  under  it,  by  the  Ist  April  1864,  in 
great  part,  and  wholly  by  the  1st  July  following.  It  beciinu'  neces- 
sary that  all  the  disbursing  officers  should  return  unexpended  baliiiices 
in  their  hands  to  the  treasury,  to  the  credit  of  the  several  appropria- 
tions, by  the  1st  April,  and  by  new  and  further  requisitions,  obtain 
the  new  issue  for  the  supply  of  their  wants.  The  effect  of  the  law 
of  17th  February  1864  upon  the  outstanding  issue  is  well  known, 
resulting  in  most  of  the  creditors  of  the  government,  soldiers  as  well 
as  others,  refusing  to  receive  tjjieir  dues  until  the  new  currency  could 


be  had.  This  necessary  change  occasioned  much  delay,  further  in- 
creased by  the  time  necessary  in  the  mere  making  and  signing  the 
notes  of  the  new  issue.  When  it  is  recollected  how  large  are  the 
transactions  of  the  government ;  that  every  department  charged  with 
the  disbursements  of  money,  as  well  as  the  Quartermaster's  Depart- 
ment, had  to  undergo  this  same  process  of  change  from  an  old  to  a 
new  currency,  and  that  there  was  necessarily  a  closing  up  of  old 
accounts  and  opening  of  new  ones,  involving  immense  amounts,  it  is 
not  difficult  to  see  how  greatly  payments  must  be  retarded  to  public 
creditors.  This  halting  of  payments  for  some  months,  necessity  of 
new  requisitions,  and  preparation  of  a  new  currency,  rendered  diffi- 
cult by  the  limited  facilities  in  the  Confederacy  for  such  work,  seemed, 
in  the  opinion  of  the  committee,  to  account  for  much  of  the  delay 
that  has  occurred.  Further  enquiry,  however,  shows  that  the  above 
were  not  the  only  causes  of  delay.  The  report  of  the  Quartermaster 
General  of  the  12th  November  1S64  exhibits  the  fact  that  requisitions 
had  been  made  by  him  on  the  Treasury  Department,  which  were 
unsatisfied  and  unpaid,  amounting  on  the  1st  November  1864,  to 
$118,945,744  24,  and  which  (as  appears  from  a  subsequent  letter 
from  that  officer  to  the  committee,  dated  ]2th  January  186-5,  and 
hereto  annexed),  was  further  increased  up  to  29th  December  follow- 
ing, to  the  sum  of  $  128,360,584  87. 

The  committee  respectfully  called  the  attention  of  the  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury  to  this  fact,  and  received  from  him  the  annexed 
letter,  dated  on  the  22d  December  1864.  It  will  be  seen,  that  in 
addition  to  the  causes  of  delay  already  noticed,  to  which  he  refers, 
that  letter  further  shows  that  the  means  supplied  by  the  existing 
legislation  of  Congress  are  not  adequate  to  the  wants  of  his  Depart- 
ment and  of  the  country,  and  that  further  legislation  is  necessary. 
This  communication  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  is  earnestly 
recommended  to  the  consideration  of  the  House,  and  the  resolution 
first  oflfered  below,  for  its  adoption.  The  delay  which  all  these 
causes  have  produced  in  the  payment  of  the  troops,  whilst  it  is  pain- 
fully regretted  by  all  who  appreciate  their  invaluable  services,  ought 
and  should  be  promptly  redressed  by  the  action  of  Congress,  and  the 
officers  charged  with  the  same. 

The  committee  further  append  two  statements  from  the  Quarter- 
master General,  showing  payments  made  the  two  principal  armies  in 
the  field,  viz: 

1st,  marked  (A),  to  Lt.  Col.  A.  J.  Smith,  to  pay 
army  of  Tennessee,  from  20th  April  to  9th 
November  1864,  -  _  -  .      $14,416,083  24 

2d,  marked  "letter  dated  14th  January,  Quarter- 
master General,"  to  Capt.  C.  W.  Morrow,  to 
pay  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  from  10th 
June  1864  to  January  6th,  1865,         -  -         10,968,522  GO 

These  sums  were  drawn  upon  requisitions  to  pay  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia  to  SOth  June  1864,  and  the  Army  of  Tennessee  to 
the  31st  August  1864.  • 


3 


Clothing  of  the  Army. 

On  this  subject  your  committee  ask  the  attention  of  the  House  to 
the  following  letters  and  statements  of  the  Quartermaster  General, 
viz: 

1.  A  letter  from  Quartermaster  General,  dated  12th  December 

1864,  already  referred  to. 

2.  Statement  of  cloth  furnished  officers  in  several  armies  and  de- 
partments, accompanying  above  letter,  and  marked  "officers'  cloth." 

3.  Letter  Quartermaster  General,  dated  27th  January  1865. 

4.  Statement  marked  "issues  of  clothing  to  armies  in  the  field," 
accompanying  the  above. 

The  statement  of  cloth  furnished  officers  in  the  field  and  at  posts 
shows  there  has  recently  been  furnished  for  that  purpose,  for  all 
officers,  31,940  yards  of  cloth.  The  complaints  indicated  by  the 
resolutions,  &c.,  calling  attention  to  this  matter,  are  that  officers  in 
the  field  do  not  get  their  fair  proportion  of  this  cloth,  whilst  those 
on  duty  at  posts  and  on  post  duty  get  more  than  their  fair  share.  It 
will  be  seen  from  the  statement,  that  of  this  quantity  of  31,940 
yards,  there  has  been  14-15ths  furnished  the  former,  and  l-15th  the 
latter.  For  the  purpose  of  finding  out,  if  possible,  how  just  this 
distribution  was,  enquiry  was  made  of  the  Adjutant  General  to  know 
the  relative  numbers  of  these  two  classes  of  officers.  To  this  was 
received  a  reply  stating  his  inability  to  furnish  the  numbers  of  each, 
for  reasons  given  in  his  letter  dated  January  4th,  1865,  which  is  filed 
with  this  report.  Whilst  it  is  probable  that  unequal  distribution  of 
army  cloth  is  made  as  between  these  two  classes,  it  is  undoubtedly 
true  that  from  the  large  number  of  officers  in  proportion  to  the  men, 
the  supply  of  cloth  has  been  inadequate  to  the  wants  of  all,  and 
consequently  many  are  not  supplied,  and  complaints  necessarily  fol- 
low. The  only  remedy  is  a  greater  quantity,  which  the  Quarter- 
master General  says  can  be  had,  if  means  were  furnished  for  their 
purchase  in  Nassau.  To  prevent  partiality  and  injustice  in  a  short 
supply,  is  almost  impossible.  Stricter  watchfulness  and  care  on  the 
part  of  superior  officers  over  their  subordinates  charged  with  this 
duty,  might  and  would  no  doubt  remedy  this  evil  to  some  extent, 
but  it  is  difficult  to  provide  for  it  by  any  further  legislation. 

In  regard  to  the  clothing  furnished  the  soldiers  and  non-commis- 
sioned officers,  the  committee  especially  refer  to  the  letters  of  the 
Quartermaster  General  of  December  12th,  1864,  and  January  27th, 

1865,  and  the  statement  referred  to  in,  and  accompanying  the  latter. 
It  appears  there  has  been  issued  to  the  armies  in  the  field,  during  the 
last  six  months,  to  December  31st,  and  also  including  to  21st  Janu- 
ary 1865,  to  Gen.  Lee's  army  the  following  articles  of  clothing  : 

Jackets,  -  -  -  215,592 

Pants,  -  -  -  356,729 

Shoes,  pairs,  -  -  -  359,937 

Blankets,  ...  131,477 


Hats  and  caps,  -  -  116,637 

Flannel  shirts,  -  -  22,503 

Cotton  shirts,  -  -  285,944 

Drawers,           .  _  .  341,682 

Socks,                -  -  -  271,285 

Overcoats,         -  -  -  6,655 

Of  this  quantity,  the  State  of  North  Carolina  furnished  her  soldiers 
as  follows: 

Jackets,  .  .  -  21,301 

Pants,  -  -  -  32,104 

Shoes,  -  -  -  9,263 

Blankets,  -  _  _  1,696 

Hats  and  caps,  -  -  12,751 

Cotton  shirts,  -  -  -  23,354 

Drawers,  .  -  _  22,519 

Socks,  _  .  -  15,059 

Overcoats,  -  .  -  200 

No  other  States  are  included  in  the  above  numbers,  although 
Georgia  has  issued  during  the  past  year  the  following  amounts : 

Jackets,  .  _  -  26,745 

Pants,  _  _  -  28,808 

Shoes,  pairs,     -  -  -  37,657 

Blankets,  -  -  -  7,504 

Shirts,  -  -  -  24,952 

Drawers,  _  _  _  24,168 

Socks,  -  -  -  23,024 

It  is  further  remarked  that  these  issues  have  been  strictly  confined 
to  the  field,  and  are  exclusive  of  issues  to  men  in  hospitals,  on  fur- 
lough, on  detailed  service  at  posts,  to  paroled  and  exchanged  men, 
and  retired  men,  and  all  post  issues  whatever. 

Under  the  act  of  congress  approved  8th  October  1862,  and  the 
regulations  of  the  Confederate  States  Army,  the  clothing  required 
to  be  furnished  each  soldier  in  service,  in  the  third  year  of  his  service, 
is  as  follows  :  One  cap  and  cover,  one  jacket,  two  pair  pants,  three 
shirts,  two  pair  drawers,  four  pair  shoes,  four  pair  socks,  one  blanket. 

If  the  calculation  be  made  upon  the  data  above  given,  it  will  be 
found  that  the  supply  has  been  sufficient  for  a  very  large  army  in  the 
field.  For  instance,  in  jackets,  an  army  of  430,000  men  ;  in  pants, 
an  army  of  390,000  ;  in  shoes,  an  army  of  190,000 — and  varying  in 
all  the  articles  enumerated.  It  will  be  recollected  also,  this  does  not 
include  any  supplies  furnished  by  States,  except  North  Carolina,  nor 
by  private  contributions,  or  private  purchases  made  by  soldiers,  or 
furnished  them  from  their  homes.  It  is  thought  these  sources  of 
supply  are  very  considerable,  but  the  committee  have  not  been  able 
to  procure  any  data  of  their  amount. 

It  may  well  be  asked  why  then  so  much  complaint  from  our  soldiers, 


and  not  only  complaints,  but  why  is  it  that  we  are  made  so  painfully 
conscious  of  their  truth  by  our  own  observation  and  information  ? 
The  Quartermaster  General  attributes  much  of  the  evil  to  result  from 
soldiers'  iijiprovidence  in  taking  care  of  their  clothing,  and  in  bar- 
tering it  off  to  civilians,  traders  and  others.  The  loss  of  clothing  by 
a  soldier  in  an  active  campaign  is  necessarily  large,  but  no  doubt  it 
could  be  much  lessened  by  a  more  careful  supervision  over  them  in 
this  particular  by  their  commanding  officers.  Personal  observation 
satisfies  the  committee  that  large  quantities  of  government  clothing 
are  possessed  by  persons  in  civil  life,  and  by  dealei^s  in  such  articles. 
A  walk  through  the  business  streets  of  Richmond  will  satisfy  any 
one  of  this  fact.  Stringent  orders  have  been  issued  by  the  War  De- 
partment for  the  prevention  of  this  practice,  by  which  the  soldiers 
sufter  so  much;  and  it  is  hoped  that  with  the  necessary  strict  disci- 
pline which  ought  to  be  enforced  by  the  officers,  it  can  be  remedied 
in  a  great  degree.  It  cannot  by  legislation,  so  far  as  the  soldiers  is 
concerned.  But  the  soldier  is  the  least  guilty  party.  The  extor- 
tioner and  speculator,  who  take  advantage  of  the  soldiers'  wants  and 
weaknesses,  deserves  the  highest  punishment.  By  the  second  reso- 
lution offered  at  the  end  of  this  report,  it  is  proposed  a  stringent  law 
shall  be  passed  to  punish  such  offenders. 

The  committee,  whilst  they  have  been  gratified  with  the  large 
amount  of  clothing  which  has  been  furnished  from  the  Quarter- 
master's Department  in  chief,  have  not  been  able  to  so  well  satisfy 
themselves  that  the  subordinate  officers  of  the  Quartermaster's  De- 
partment, whose  business  it  is  to  distribute  clothing  in  the  field,  show 
the  same  energy,  promptness  and  care  in  their  duties.  Their  means 
of  information  on  this  score  were  very  limited  ;  but  they  would  re- 
commend a  committee  be  appointed  to  visit  the  camps  and  fields, 
with  power  to  examine  persons  and  papers,  during  the  vacation. 

In  conclusion,  they  offer  the  following  resolutions  for  the  adoption 
of  the  House  : 

1 .  Resolved,  That  so  much  of  this  report  as  refers  to  the  pay  of 
the  officers  and  soldiers,  be  referred  to  the  committee  of  ways  and 
means,  with  earnest  instructions  that  they  will  immediately  take 
efficient  action,  and  report  such  legislation  as  is  necessary  to  promptly 
pay  all  arrearages  due  the  soldiers,  and  as  will  insure  their  future 
prompt  payment. 

2.  Resolved,  That  so  much  of  this  report  as  refers  to  the  evil  of 
soldiers  bartering  and  selling  their  clothing,  be  referred  to  the  com- 
mittee on  the  judiciary,  with  instructions  to  report  a  bill  for  the 
punishment  of  all  not  in  the  military  service,  for  purchasing  or  trad- 
ing for  government  clothing  from  soldiers  and  others,  and  making  the 
possession  of  such  articles  prima  facie  evidence  of  such  offence. 

8.  That  this  committee  be  discharged  from  the  further  considera- 
tion of  the  subject. 

S.  A.  MILLER,  a'n. 


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